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In a surprising move ahead of the upcoming NFL training camp, the New Orleans Saints have decided to release veteran center Billy Price, a former 1st round pick.
The news were first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates. Price played in 69 NFL games in his career, starting 45 of them.
The Saints have released veteran OL Billy Price with a non-football injury designation.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 20, 2023
When the Saints signed Price in June, the team was reportedly looking to bolster their depth at the center position behind Erik McCoy, who has struggled with injuries, missing a total of nine games over the past two seasons.
Last season, Price had an opportunity to showcase his skills as he started in 11 games for the Arizona Cardinals after being signed from the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad in early October.
Prior to that, he had also seen starting roles with the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Giants. However, his performance has been lackluster, and he has failed to meet expectations since being drafted as the 21st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
As Price enters his age-29 campaign, it seems the Saints have decided the center wasn’t good enough to make their offseason roster, as they’re seeking better options to strengthen their offensive line.
The release of the former first-round pick will undoubtedly draw attention from other teams in need of center depth as they prepare for the upcoming season.